Can you explain what is meant by 'API' in software development?

API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and interfaces that allow different software components to interact with each other. In software development, an API defines how one program or service can use the functions or data of another program.

Example: a web API allows a client application to send requests to a server and receive data in a specific format (e.g., JSON). This simplifies integration and reuse of functionality.

Thus, an API is a contract between developers that describes which methods are available, what parameters they accept, and what results they return.